Folding-machine



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A.'BL0MPBLDT.

FOLDING MACHINE.

N0.,58'9,068. Patented Aug. 31,1897.

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(No Model.)

. A. BLOMFBLDT.

FOLDING MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 31,1897.

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(No Model) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. BLOMPELDT. FOLDING MACHINE No. 589,068.` l Patented Aug. 31,1897.

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A. BLO'MPELDIT. FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 589,068'. -Patented Aug. 31,1897.

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(N0 Model.) l 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. A. vBLONLPBLM. FOLDINGA MACHINE.

N0. 589,068.v Patented Aug. 31,1897.,

ma? l b2 I I S m. 'Hrm @u mw AUNrrnD STATES i` 4PAT-Erri* OFFICE..

AXEL BLOMFELDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDINCVMACHINE.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,068, dated August 31, 189'?. Application filed January 11, 1897.l Serial No.` 618,844. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom, it 71ml/ concer/f Be it known that I, AXEL BLOMFELDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and-State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of foldin g-machines which operates to impart transverse folds to sheets of material passing through it, and while it is 'more especiallydesigned and intended to be used for folding railroad mileage-tickets,which are ofconsiderable length, yet it is applicable for folding other sheets; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement,

and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide an'improved folder of the abovenamed class whereby the material may be formed into numerous folds or layers and to locate said folds at the proper points, so as to produce a package of convenient size and form and so that the creases or folds will not interfere with the printed matter or inscriptions which may be o n the material being folded.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description hereinafter set forth.

In order to enable others vskilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Y Figure l is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the front or operating side, showing the lower part of the main or supporting frame broken away. Fig. 3 is an end view in elevation. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on line 4 4 of Fig.l l, showing'the bedplate and one of the retaining jaws or pieces and the mechanism for adjusting it on the bed-plate or main frame. view taken on line 5,-5 of Fig. 1, showing one pair of the carriers or travelers provided with a folding or creasing blade and a fragment of one of the levers employed for raising the retaining-jaws. Fig. 6 is an enlarged Fig. 5 is a similar,

sectionalV view, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrow, showing theA manner of movablysecuring the connecting-bars of the levers for lifting the retaining-jaws on the upper part of the liftingpost. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in elevation of a part of the bed-plate or top of the main frame,

showin g the delivery-platform mounted thereon, one of the retaining-jaws, and the mechanism for operating the same, and illustrating a part of the folding or creasing blades, carriers, or travelers in a different position from that shown in Figs. l and 2 and about in the actof forcing the sheet of material to be folded under one of the retaining-jaws. Fig. 8 is 'a detail edge view of the sheetof material after it has been folded; and Fig. 9

is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.`

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

A represents the main or supporting frame, which is braced near its lower portion by means of tie-rods a and is provided at its upper part with a top or bed plate A', upon which is mounted on suitable supports CL a delivery-platform A2 for the support and guidance of the sheet or ticket A3 which is to be folded. On its uppersurface and near its side edges the platform A2 is provided with holding-plates a2 and a3, the former of which is hinged at its outer edge on the platform, while the latter is hinged to an adjustable piece a4, which is provided withA a slot a5 to receive a set-screw a6, which engages the delivery-platform or support therefor and is employed to secure the adjustable piece at the desired position, which piece may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly to accom modate the width of the ticket or sheet to which the folds are to be imparted and in conjunction with the holding-plates a2 and d3 will guide the ticket or sheet and hold it taut.

In suitable bearings and near one end of the main frame is journaled a main or driving shaft B, upon Which is loosely mounted a pulleyB, to which power is applied `by means of a belt, (not shown,) and which pulleymay be IiXed on the shaft by means of a clutch B2, located on said shaft and adapted to be thrown ICO e 589,0es

into engagement with the pulley through the medium of the levers l; and b', which are counected by means of a rod b2, as shown in Figs. l and 3 of the drawings. The lever I) is fulcrumed, as at b3, on a bracket of the main frame and is provided at its lower end with a roller or projection b, which extends into an annular groove if on the clutch.

To the upperend of the lever b is pivotally connected the rod ZJ?, which is provided at its other end with an eccentric D, located on the fulcrum 127 of the hand-lever b', by the raising or lowering of which the clutch will be engaged or disengaged from the pulley, as is apparent. On the shaft B is also located a cogged gear C, which meshes with a similar gear C' on the shaft C2, which is journaled on the main frame and has secured on its inner end a block Ci", as shown in Figs. 2 and 9, for the reception of a screw-rod C4, used to regulate the stroke of the carriers for the folding or creasing blades, as will be presently explaiued.

The screw-rod C1 extends through and is secured in the ends of the block C and has thereon a screw-threaded nut C5, located in the groove c, and is provided with an extension c', the end of which is screw-threaded to engage a nut c2. On the extension c' is a collar ciand a washer cl adjacent to the block, and movably secured on the collar o is one end of the pitnian D, whose other end is pivotally connected to the lower end of a lever D', fulcrumed on the main frame. On the extension c' of the nut Ciis awasher c5, which contacts with the outer portion of the collar c3 and is held in position by means of t-henutc'2 on said extension or arm.

Pivotally secured at one of its ends to the upper end of the lever D' is a pitman D2, whose other end is pivotally secured on a cross-.bar D3, located beneath the bed-plate A' or top of the main frame and uniting the lower portions of the folding or creasing blade carriers E, which are movably located on the sides of the bed-plate.

Each of the carriers E consist of an upright piece E', each provided with two vertical openings or chambers c for the reception and operation of springs c', whose lower ends are seen red to the ends of the folding or creasing blades F, which extend parallel with one another across the top of the bed-plate and from one carrier to the other and have their adjacent edges downwardly beveled, as shown at f in Figs. l and 7 of the drawings. Each of these blades are formed near their ends with upward bends f', usually rectangular in shape, and extend into the vertical openings or chambers c of the carriers to engage the springs c', which normally hold them in a lowered position. The outer port-ion of the bends f' of the blades tit and operate in vertical grooves e2 on the adjacent surfaces of the carriers and are vertically guided thereby.

Journaled in each of the bends f' of the blades F is a roller f2, which contact in the movement of the carriers with the side pieces G and G', whose adjacent ends are beveled, as at (j, to cause the rollers on cach blade to alternately rise thereon.

As shown in Figs. l and 7 of the drawings, the side pieces or rails G and l' are secured to the blocks H and 1I', respectively, which are located in pairs on the side edges of the bed-plate and at the proper distance apart to allow of the movement or stroke of the carriers E,which are located between said blocks. Each of these blocks are of similar construction and are formed with a recess 7L in their lower part, within which fits the bed-plate A', and are joined together in pairs at their lower ends by means of cross-bars 71,' and h2, which are provided with hangers or bearings h3 and 7L* for the screwthreaded rods 7L, on and near one end of each of which is located a gear h, and which rods are employed for regulating the position of said blocks. The upper portion of cach of the blocks H and H' is provided with a vertical slot or recess 7L?, extending therethrough and transversely to the bedplate for the reception of an angular foot H2, provided with a pin orprojection hg on its outer part,which feet are normally held in a lowered position by means of springs 7i", located in suitable chambers on the top of the blocks. Extending across the top of the bed-plate and connecting the feet in pairs is a retaining-jaw H3, which is lifted to allow the ends of the ticket or sheet of material being folded to be placed thereunder.

Fulcrumed to the outer surface of each of the blocks II and H' is a bell-crank lever I,

each of which is provided with a protectingpiece I', which is pivotally secured at its upper end to the said lever and is adjusted by means of a set-screw i, located in'each of the levers near its lower end. To the upper end or arm of each of the levers I, and between said arm and the outer surface of the block to which the lever I is fulcrumed, is pivot-ally secured an engaging and releasing cam K, which is formed with two prongs lo and 7c', the former to engage a pin h on the outer surface of the block andthe latter to engage the projection h8 of the foot H2, which, as before stated, is secured to the retaining-jaw.

Fulcrumed on the outer surface ofy the blocks H and ll' are levers L, whose upper ends or arms l extend under the projections hs of the feet H2. so as to extend under the bed-plate or top of the main frame, and are connected transversely with the bed-plate in pairsby means of cross-bars L', which cross-bars have secured at their middle and at right angles thereto arms Z', which pass through an opening m in the head-piece M, secured on the lifting-post M', which is supported by means of a bracket M2, on which is fulcrumed a foot-lever M3, whose inner end projects under the lower ends of the lifting-post, which'is normally held in a lowered posit-ion by means of a spring m', encircling the post, and whose These levers are curved IOO ICS

IIU

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v589,068 I v s upper end rests against a collarm2 of the bracket M2 and the lower end against an annular enlargement m3 on the post.

In order to adjust the blocks H and H', the rods h6, which are provided with right and left screw-threads, as shown in Fig. 2, are passed through screw-threaded openings in the hangers h3 and h4, and are turned by means of the gear hm, which is journaled on the main frame and is provided with a projection h13 to receive a'crank-handle or wrench' for operating the same. As the blocks H and H' are thus adjusted with respect to one another, it is apparent that the arms Z', which pass through the opening 'rh in the headpiece M, will be free to move longitudinally in said opening, yet will be in position to lift the levers L when desired.

On the outer surface ofeach of the carriers E and near their lower ends are journaled two rollers e3, which contact with the pivoted vpieces I on the bell-crank levers when said pieces are employed, (or if theyare omitted with the said levers.)

Journaled transversely on the mainframe and near the main or driving-shaft B is a shaft B3, which is providedon its end adjacent to the driving-shaft with a gear hs, which meshes with a gear b9 on the main shaft. On the other end of the shaft B3 is a handwheel B4, which is used for turning the shaft B3, and through it the main shaft, -when it is desired to set the carriers at the desired position.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings it will be seen and clearly understood that by extending the sheet or ticket A3 from the delivery-platform A2 between the blades F and placing the free end thereof under one of. the jaws H3, which may be raisedv to receive the end of the ticket by pressing on the foot-lever M3, which forces the lifting-post M' upward, and through it the arms Z' on the levers L, which engage the projections h8 on the feet H2, to which the jaws are secured. By removing the pressure from the foot-lever the jaws will descend and one'of them hold a sheet between it and the bed-plate, when power may be applied to the driving-shaft, which will cause the carriers E, bearing the folding-blades F, to move toward the blocks H', in which operation the rollers f2 adjacent to said blocks will contact with the beveled portions g of the side pieces or rails G and will travel and rise thereon, thus lifting the blade next to the blocks H' over the jaw H3, at which instant the rollers e3 adjacent to the` blocks H' will impinge the lower portion of the bell-crank levers I'and force them outwardly, thus raising the arms I2, and therebycausing the cams K, pivoted on said arms, to lift the jaw H3 by means of the feet H2 and their projections hs7 when the lowered folding-blade will force the sheet under the jaw, which at this instant will be tripped by reason of the lower arms h' 0f the cams being removed from under the projections hs, which is accomplished by the reverse movement, and the blade, which-has just been raised, will be lowered by reason of the springs c' and the incline g of the side pieces Gr' and will press the sheet on the lower layer thereof until the rollers f2 adja cent to the blocks H strike the side pieces G, when the same operation as just above described will occur.

It is apparent that by lowering the handlever b' the clutch B2 will be disengaged from the pulley B', which is loosely mounted on the driving-shaft, and the operation of the machine thus stopped. As the bell-crank levers I may become worn by continuous impingement with the rollers e3 on the carriers, I may provide each of said levers with a piece I', which is pivoted at its upper end in aslot in the face of the lever and is extended or retracted in said slot by means of a set-screw fil, located in the lower portion of the lever.

To regulate the stroke of the folding or creasing blades, the screw-rod C4 may be turned so as to force the pitman D, which is connected to said screw-rod, as above set forth, either up or down thereon, as may be required, which adjustment will produce the desired result.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a main orsupporting frame provided with a top or bedv plate, 0f two pairs of blocks located thereon, a re taining-jaw extending across the bed-plate and secured in the blocks of each pair but having a vertical movement therein, a lever fulcrumed on each of the blocks and having a connection at one of its ends with the retaining-jaw, a cross-bar uniting the other ends of the levers beneath the bed-plate, a lifting-post movably connected to said cross* bars and a footflever adapted to lift said post, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a main or supporting frame provided with a top or bed plate, of the blocks H, and H', located thereon, each having the vertical opening h7, the retainingjaws H3, located between the blocks and across the bed-plate, the spring-actuated feet H2,

provided with the projections hs, secured to the said jaws and located in the openings of the blocks, the levers L, fulcrumed on the blocks and engaging at one of their ends with the projections hs, the cross-bars L', uniting the other ends of the levers in pairs, the lifting-rod M', movably connected to said crossbars, and a foot-lever to lift said post,`sub stantially as described.

3. The combination with a main orsupporting frame provided with a top or bed plate, of the blocks H, and H', having the vertical openings hl, the retainin g-jaws H3, located between the blocks aud across the bed-plate,the springaetuatcd feet Ilz, provided with the projections 71,8, secured to the said jaws and located in said openings ofthe blocks, the bellcranks I, fulcrumed on the blocks, the cams K, pivoted on the upper arm of the bell-crank levers and having the prongs 7s, and 7.a', adapted to lift and release the jaws through the projections hs, substantiallyv as described.

4. The combination with amain orsupporting frame provided with a top or bed plate, of the blocks ll, and ll, provided with the side pieces G, and G, respectively, and having the vertical openings 7L?, the retaining-jaws H3, located between the blocks and across the bed-plate, the spring-actuated feet ll?, provided with the projections hs, secured to the said jaws and located in said openings of the blocks, the bell-cranks I, fulerumed on the blocks, the cams K, pivoted on the upper arm of the bellerank levers and having the prongs 7.1, and 7o', adapted to lift and release 'the jaws through the projections hs, the carriers E, mounted on the bed-plate between the blocks II, and H', two parallel blades extending across the bed-plate and connected to the carriers and having a vertical movement therein, the rollers e3, journaled on the outer surface of the carriers and adapted to impinge the lower part of the bell-crank levers, the rollers f2, j ournaled ou the said blades and adapted to contact with the rails G, and G', and a mechanism to impart a reciprocating movement to the carriers, and a vertical movement to the blades and retaining-jaws, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a main or supporting` frame, provided with a top or bed plate, of the carriers E, mounted on the bed-plate at its edges and each provided with Vertical openings and grooves for the reception and operation of two parallel blades, said blades extending across the bed-plate and having at their ends upward bends fitting in the grooves of the carriers, springs within said vertical openings and secured tothe ends of the blades, rollers journaled on the bent portions of the blades and adapted to contact with'inclined surfaces to raise the blades, substantially as described.

Chicago, Illinois, December 1G, 1896.

AXEL BLOMFELDT.

Vitiiesses:

CHAS. C. TILLMAN, E. F. DUGGAN. 

